Exhibition showcases best of Indonesian sculpture<\/p>\n
Carla Bianpoen, Contributor\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Just four years ago, sculptors in Indonesia who wanted to
\nencourage better appreciation of their art on the part of the
\ngeneral public founded the Association of Indonesian Sculptors.
\nThey felt their art deserved the same appreciation as the
\npaintings that dominated the galleries and auction rooms.<\/p>\n
In fact, sculpture has been receiving a lot of attention,
\nalbeit not as much as painting. But collecting works of sculpture
\nis not for everyone. Not only does one need a lot of space for a
\n3-dimensional artwork, but sculptures are usually also quite
\nheavy, and galleries would have to spend more on transportation.<\/p>\n
But for the Edwin Gallery in Jakarta, this is apparently not
\nan obstacle to featuring all-sculpture exhibitions. Since 1993,
\nthe gallery has been actively promoting sculpture, and has
\nwitnessed a distinct increase in the public's interest in the art
\nform.<\/p>\n
Its current exhibition emphasizes the gallery's desire to
\npromote the art of Indonesian sculptors.<\/p>\n
The Membaca Kembali Konvensi (Rereading Conventions)
\nexhibition displays the works of 24 sculptors from Jakarta,
\nBogor, Bandung and Yogyakarta. In fact, it features more
\nsculptors than the Contemporary Indonesian Sculpture exhibition
\nback in 1973, the first exhibition here to feature many different
\nstyles, and almost as many as the Second Jakarta Triennial in
\n1998, which featured 32 participants.<\/p>\n
Yet, as the current exhibition shows, not much has changed in
\nstyle since then. Figurative and abstract art still dominates the
\nscene.<\/p>\n
Yusra Martunus, 31, whose \"wall installation\" of aluminum
\nhorse shoes titled Bending the Hard drew the public's attention,
\nhas since then made various explorations on the same theme. This
\nexhibit again surprises with an unusual sculpture in which Yustra
\nputs the handle of a door, lined by pink lace, on top of what
\nlooks like an iron box. This work is titled 0414, or House amidst
\nmelted aluminum. \"I have explored the door handle in various
\nspaces, sometimes even amidst the clouds,\" reveals the artist,
\nwho entitles his works according to their place in the sequence
\nof this series of explorations.<\/p>\n
Unusual works are also offered by 31-year-old Redy Rahadian,
\nwhose Merenung di Tangga I and II (Contemplating by the Stairs I
\nand II) -- figures on stairs measuring 30cm by 32cm by 53.5cm and
\n58cm by 42cm by 43cm made of metal -- give a new meaning to
\nsculpture.<\/p>\n
Senior sculptor Anusapati, born in 1957, who is known for his
\nwooden sculptures that resemble refined craft, now seems to have
\nswitched to producing works out of bronze and stone. Bunga di
\natas Batu (Flower on a stone) and Now and Then feature images of
\nbundles of dry branches on rocks. As with his works carved out of
\nwood, Anuspati once again shows a high level of precision in the
\nexecution of his work.<\/p>\n
Taking a step forward in the development of her art, Altje
\nUlly Panjaitan, 48, now ventures into works inspired by the
\nenergy that is within each woman. Using stone mixed with resin,
\nin works titled Cakra Dasar (Basic Cakra) dan Kundalini, each
\nmeasuring 35cm by 25cm by 10cm , Altje displays female buttocks
\nrevealing the area between the anus to the vagina -- the center
\nof energy according to Altje.<\/p>\n
Yani Mariani Sastranegara, 49, a sculptor who in 2002 found
\nthat she needed more space for expressing her search for ultimate
\nbeauty, and made the leap from sculpture to installation,
\ndisplays amazing features abstracted from nature and the depths
\nof the metaphysical. She places figures from her imaginary world
\nmade from pewter on natural rocks. Her works such as Fly Away or
\nCradling thy Being are like alluring forms from a wondrous, other
\nworld.<\/p>\n
Other participants in the exhibition are Akmal Jaya, Awan
\nSimatupang, Basrizal Albara, Bernauli Pulungan, Dolorosa Sinaga,
\nG. Sidharta Soegijo, Hanung Mahadi, Hardiman Radjab, Harry
\nSusanto, Ichwan Noor, Iriantine Karnaya, Rudi Mantofani, S.
\nRichyana, Sardjito, Sunaryo, Taufan AP, Teguh S. Priyono, Thony
\nTarigan S., and Yana WS.<\/p>\n
Membaca Kembali Konvensi (Rereading Conventions); Exhibition of
\n28 sculptors through Aug. 29, 2004; Edwin Gallery, Jl. Kemang
\nRaya 21, Jakarta. Tel: 7194721, 71790049<\/p>",
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